Britney Spears has confessed to doctors that she has been suffering from the eating disorder bulimia since she was 16.

The 25-year-old singer tearfully told rehab staff – already treating her for drug and alcohol abuse – that she “pigs out” on junk food like burgers, sweets, biscuits and ice cream then makes herself vomit to avoid putting on weight.

Britney’s nine-year nightmare, revealed in an American magazine, was confirmed by a senior source at the £24,000-a-month Promises centre in Malibu, California.

She entered the centre last month after shaving her head at a hair salon.

“Doctors are alarmed at the physical state she is in,” said the source. “They confronted her about her desperately unhealthy lifestyle and the truth came pouring out.”

Britney said she managed to stop the dangerous habit during her two pregnancies.

But as soon as sons Sean Preston and Jayden James were born, she began the desperately unhealthy cycle again in an effort to lose her added baby weight.

On top of her alcohol and alleged cocaine use, the bulimia turned her into a “human wreck”, according to the source, who added: “When she came here she was shaking and baking. Her whole body was wracked by spasms and she was hot one minute, then freezing cold the next.

“Her first week in detox was real hell. She was in a total mess but slowly she’s pulling through.”

Dietary specialists at Promises are working with doctors to help Britney conquer the eating disorder – famously suffered by Princess Diana – which was discovered when specialists realised why her medications were not working.

The source said: “For the first few days, she’d take her tablets, then go off and eat breakfast or lunch. She was throwing the whole lot up, so, naturally, her medications weren’t working. Now the medical experts know why, her progress should pick up a little speed.”

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A video of a pre-rehab Britney Spears and a couple dancers at a New York nightclub might spell serious trouble for the pop princess, and could make things even more difficult as she struggles for custody of her kids.

While still photos of Britney switching clothes with the dancers at club One on February 12 are being shopped around for $150,000, Rush & Molloy report that the video – which the dancers say got them fired though they didn’t specify what they were doing on it – is a much bigger deal. “If that thing goes on the Internet,” says a source, “it’s going to be big trouble. It might be what they need to take [Spears'] kids away from her.”

The rep for the club says the dancers weren’t fired, and neither reps for Brit nor the dancers would comment.

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Britney Spears took a break from rehab last night, for more rehab.

Sporting a wig underneath a brown hat, Britney was reportedly heading to an AA meeting in Santa Monica last night, smiling all the way.

We’re told that Britney, who was escorted into the support group by her assistant, returned to Promises treatment center right after the meeting.

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Found more pics on X17

Before checking in to Promises rehab center in Malibu for the second time, Britney Spears enjoyed a strange, bewildered day with two new friends.

Bright and early on February 17, a newly bald Spears arrived at L.A.s chic Mondrian hotel, ready to catch some rays. But the star was denied a room due to lack of credit cards or cash.

By 11 a.m., an undeterred Spears, 25, had stripped down to a bra and panties poolside, then shaved her legs in the pool bathroom.

“It was sad,” says a source. “It looked like she really needed a friend.”

She got two – at least for a few hours. Around noon, Spears (then in a blonde wig) began chatting up a woman in the bathroom, who offered to loan the pop star a bathing suit.

Spears followed her new friend to her hotel room where — after changing into a borrowed bikini — she raided the minibar.

“She grabbed four or five bottles and just started mixing everything and drinking them.”

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TMZ has learned Britney Spears’ troubles may have little to do with substance abuse. Sources say doctors at her rehab facility think the underlying reason for her trouble may be post-partum depression.

Sources tell TMZ that Britney’s doctors have two operating theories — either that she suffers from post-partum depression or bipolar disorder. The doctors strongly believe post-partum is the problem.

As for substance abuse, as one source says, “No doubt about it – she likes to drink.” But doctors believe the drinking is a way Spears has coped with a bigger problem.

We’re told Britney, who is sticking it out at the Promises rehab facility in Malibu, is currently reading Brooke Shields’ book, “Down Came the Rain,” in which Shields reveals her battle with post-partum depression.

We’re told doctors believe Spears’ problem is complicated by an intense feeling on her part that she has lost control of her life.

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Britney Spears has found an unlikely ally as she battles her demons in rehab – recovering cocaine addict Daniel Baldwin.

Movie star Baldwin met up with the pop star at the Promises rehab clinic in Malibu, California over the weekend and urged her to contact him if she needed to talk about her troubles.

A source says, “He gave her his phone number.”

Baldwin has since told TV news show Extra that his new pal seemed “a little fearful about her situation”.